THE FINISHED QUILT

Well this week just somehow got away from me.  Here we are to Saturday already, and I am finally getting around to posting for just the second time.  As of this morning I have officially finished the quilt!  Goodness, I may have made mistakes along the way, and learned a thing or two, but I certainly can't say I haven't thoroughly enjoyed the whole process.  I KNOW I have said this before, lol, but this REALLY is my very first quilt.  The others that I have made have not counted for one reason or another.  The one I made for Weston was sooo simple, as it just had `10 in squares of various fabrics, and had NO borders etc., I am not really counting it.  This one I used a pattern for the very first time, had two different borders, and is complete even with a label on the back, so it is going to go down in the records as my very first quilt.  It was really fairly easy in spite of the dumb mistake I made on the borders.  I am thrilled to pieces with the way the professional quilting came out.  I don't think I have gotten a single picture (even with my good camera) that really does it justice.  Probably because I may have a super good camera, but I am still just a simple point and shoot kind of photographer...still on my bucket list to learn.  She graduated today, but the party to celebrate is not until a week from Sunday, so I finished it plenty of time.  Good thing I started when I did however.  I don't know if I am particularly slow hand sewing or what, but it took me HOURS to hand sew the back of the binding on.  How long does it take the rest of you more experienced quilters?  I was tempted to whip out my sewing machine and just do it, but I wanted it to look right.  It's not that I can't hand sew, it is just that I am not particularly fond of it.  I was also taking my time as I didn't want the stitching to show, so I had to be careful.  Anyway, let me show you the finished quilt.

I AM NOT SURE IT WAS SMART TO TAKE THE PICTURES OUTSIDE, BUT I GUESS I DECIDED THE LIGHT WAS BEST OUT HERE.  BUT YOU CAN'T REALLY SEE THE QUILTING THIS WAY.  HUBBY IS 6'3" SO YOU GET KIND OF THE IDEA OF HOW BIG THIS IS.

I LOVE THE BACKING ON THIS QUILT, THOUGH YOU CANNOT REALLY SEE IT ALL THIS WELL IN THIS PICTURE.  NOTICE MY LABEL IN THE LOWER CORNER

I MADE THIS SIMPLE LITTLE DESIGN ON MY MACHINE AND THEN EMBROIDERED IT USING THE SAME COLOR THREADS AS ON THE FRONT.  HAS THE DATE OF HER GRADUATION ON IT.  YOU CAN SEE ONE OF MY MITERED CORNERS.  LOOKS LIKE MY "INVISIBLE" STITCHING ON THE BINDING COULD USE SOME WORK THOUGH, LOL.

I LOVED THE WAY SHE QUILTED THIS

ALL THE QUILTING (EXCEPT FOR IN THE CENTER) WAS DONE WITH A LIGHT GREY THREAD

YOU CAN KIND OF SEE THE BIG FLOWERS HERE...LOVED IT!

I have ordered the fabric (FINALLY) and settled on a pattern I am going to use for my next quilt.  I have decided for me that picking out the fabrics and the pattern is by far the most difficult part of the whole process.   Maybe if I was just trying to please myself (haven't made one for myself yet) it would be simple, but I probably agonize way too much over what might please the recipient. Anyway, I will be showing this fabric when I get it.  I love it...and I am hoping they will too.  I am also going to be busy this next week making a scripture pillow for another one of my nieces.  It is her 40th birthday so I wanted to make something for her too.  Honestly, I have a hard time keeping it up with all I'd like to make.

Meanwhile, in other news, hubby's dad, who will be 85 at the end of June is staying with us for a couple of days.  He is in need of a triple by-pass surgery and we were hoping to get it done here so we would be close to help him out.  However it is looking now like he might be going to Las Vegas for the surgery so I guess we will see how it all works out.  It is soo hard dealing with aging parents.    My hubby's dad has enjoyed fantastic health until now, and I think it is soo hard for them to consider giving up their independence.  I totally understand of course.  Growing old is just not easy.

Guess that's it for now.  Hope you are all having a good week-end.  We are thoroughly enjoying ours.  Blessings to you all!  Debbie

I decided to link up to a sewing/quilting party for the first time.  You can join the others, or enjoy their projects HERE at Quilt Story.  I know you will enjoy!